Trimble feels heat as 30 party members walk out

DAVID TRIMBLE was under renewed pressure to step down as Ulster Unionist Party leader last night after more than 30 members of his constituency association walked out during the annual general meeting.

The desertion of 30 UUP members from the Upper Bann association meeting, while a personal blow to Trimble, should not unduly harm efforts to salvage the Northern Assembly, Government sources insisted last night.

However with an historic meeting between Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Ian Paisley scheduled for Thursday, sources were confident that Mr Trimble's misfortunes would not scupper efforts to reconvene the Northern Assembly.